Parties of natives were constantly calling upon me, and would stay perhaps three or four days at a time.

I encouraged these visits, and invariably prepared some entertainment for my guests,--even going to the extent of providing them with wives, according to native custom.

But, you will ask, where did I get wives to hand round in this convenient fashion?
A very interesting question this, and one which requires a somewhat lengthy answer.

Now, the blacks do not look upon the advent of a female child with any favour; on the contrary, they frequently get rid of it at once in order to save themselves the trouble of taking it with them when on the walk-about.
As I was always very fond of children, I decided to try and put a stop to this dreadful habit of child-murder, so I made it known far and wide that parents could pass their girl-babies on to me, and I would rear and look after them.

The result of this widely-advertised offer was that I soon had quite an orphan asylum established--an institution which was valuable to me in many ways.